Panthers run over Bucs, take NFC South lead

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Given a national stage, the Carolina Panthers made a pretty good case to be included among the NFL’s top teams.

Running all over Tampa Bay with their emerging tandem of DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart, the Panthers seized control of the competitive NFC South with a 38-23 win over the Buccaneers on Monday night.

Williams rushed for a career-high 186 yards and two touchdowns, Stewart added 115 yards and two more scores and the Panthers set a team record for yards rushing for the second time in a month.

And this time it was against a team that came in having allowed only one rushing TD all season.

The Panthers (10-3) avenged their worst loss of the season and grabbed the top spot in the division for themselves, moving one game ahead of the Buccaneers (9-4).

“People remember what you do in December,” Panthers coach John Fox said. “This was a big stage and I like the way our guys met that challenge.”

The Panthers wore down the Buccaneers’ highly regarded defense in the final period behind their emerging stars in the backfield.

Steve Smith added nine catches for 117 yards and a touchdown, and the Panthers overcame Jake Delhomme’s two interceptions behind their dominating ground game.

“It’s kind of what we’re built around,” Fox said. “I think we got bigger and more physical up front and both of those back are pretty special.”